Apparatus for sensing

Abstract

Apparatus for determining respiratory information about a user, the apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor having a field of view, the temperature sensors being arranged to detect a temperature gradient within volume of interest and each providing an output signal; b. a support frame having a head on which said temperature sensors are mounted, the support frame and temperature sensors making no contact, in use, with the user; and c. a processor for processing one or more of said output signals to determine said respiratory information about the user.

1 . Apparatus for determining respiratory information about a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor having a field of view, the temperature sensors being arranged to detect a temperature gradient within a volume of interest and each providing an output signal;   b. a support frame comprising a head on which said temperature sensors are mounted, the support frame and temperature sensors making no contact, in use, with the user; and   c. a processor for processing one or more of said output signals to determine said respiratory information about the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said temperature gradient includes at least two peaks in temperature and wherein said processor determines said respiratory information from a detectable temporal or physical separation of said two peaks. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said temperature sensor is any one of a thermopile, a thermocouple, a pyrometer, an infrared camera, a thermistor, a resistance temperature detector, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising a tracker capable of tracking positional information about the user, in real-time. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising a closed-loop feedback control system capable of moving said support frame when the user's head moves outside said fields of view to reinstate the user's head within at least one of said fields of view. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein said temperature gradient is generated by exhalation by a recumbent user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged such that their fields of view overlap. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of temperature sensors have a focal point determined by the shape of the head of the support frame. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein said temperature sensors operate at a sampling rate of 125 Hz. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising a camera, for example a CCD camera, an infrared camera and/or a thermal imaging camera, capable of monitoring a surface temperature of the user and/or a temperature profile of the volume of interest. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising a microphone and/or a movement sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises four temperature sensors arranged in a generally square or rectangular configuration on said support frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising facial recognition hardware and/or software. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising one or more sensors for monitoring ambient characteristics inside and/or outside said volume of interest. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the temperature sensors are mountable at least 15 cm from the user's face. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the support frame comprises a support arm and said head on which the temperature sensors are mounted, the head being positionable and height-adjustable above the user's face when the user is recumbent. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the processor selects one of said output signals from which to determine said respiratory information. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the processor compares one or more of said non-selected output signals with said selected output signal. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims further comprising one or more sensors for monitoring physiological parameters of a user. 
     
     
         20 . A method of sensing thermal information from a recumbent user, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims;   b. obtaining output signals from the plurality of temperature sensors; and   c. processing said output signals using said processor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of determining a respiratory rate of the user from the processed output signals. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  or  claim 21  further comprising tracking positional information about the user, in real-time, and moving said support frame when the user's head moves outside said fields of view to reinstate the user's head within at least one of said fields of view.